Proceedings 5th African Rift geothermal Conference

Arusha, Tanzania, 29-31 October 2014

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Magneto-Telluric (MT) Survey in Tendaho Geothermal Prospect, Northeast Ethiopia.

(Workalemahu, K.)

Geothermal Resource Exploration and Evaluation Directorate Geological Survey of Ethiopia (GSE).

P.O. Box 27845 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

yiheyiskebede@gmail.com

Keywords: Magneto-Telluric (MT), 1D and 2D conductivity structures, resistivity discontinuities.

ABSTRACT

Magneto-Telluric (MT) survey was conducted in Tendaho Geothermal prospect around Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields

between December 29/2012 and April 11, 2013 in an area bounded between the geographic coordinates (40°59'E, 11°47'59.4''N)

and (41°14'50.7''E, 11°37'2.91''N . The major objectives of the study were to define the assumed up flow zone of the geothermal

fluid south-east of the major hydrothermal manifestations in the Dubti field and refine the proposed conceptual model, to study the

subsurface resistivity structure of the geothermal system at the Allalobeda field, its relation to the geothermal field marked by fossil

altered ground around Logya town situated north of it and to outline possible geothermal reservoirs at an economical depth level

around both fields.

Magntotelluric survey in the frequency range between 320Hz and 0.001Hz was conducted over six profiles across the two fields

and the data analyzed. As a result the Swift strike analysis indicated the general NW-SE impedance strike direction coincident with

the N155°E strike of the Tendaho rift axis and the dimensionality analysis revealed 1D conductivity structure up to 10 sec and 5 sec

periods around the Dubti and Allaobeda fields and non-1D structure for the longer periods at the respective fields.

Combined results using 1D model obtained from the Occam procedure to the invariant mode of the impedance tensor and 2D

inversion model using the joint TE+TM modes, revealed zones of conductive layers successively decreasing in magnitude with

depth delineating possibly the cap rock, a horizon of low temperature alteration clay minerals in the zeolite-smectite zone and the

mixed layer zone followed by a zone of high temperature alteration product in epidote and chlorite clay minerals, adjacent to the

structural discontinuities AD1, AD3 and AD4 in Allalobeda field and D0, D2, D3 and D4 in the Dubti field. Possible geothermal

reservoirs inferred at both fields related to these resistivity structures. A well-defined low conductivity zone ≈ 10 Ohm-m in the

south-eastern Dubti field delineates the up flow zone of the geothermal fluid and circulation of geothermal fluid was deduced to be

related to the discontinuities D2/D3 whose northern extension of the inferred structures is the Dubti fault. The trend of high and low

resistivity contour lines and the discontinuities (NW-SE alignment) indicated the possibility of the connection of the Allalobeda and

Logya geothermal systems. Additional MT soundings towards Logya at Allalobeda field and south of TDO8 in the Dubti field and

reinterpretation of result using TEM data were recommended for a better definition of the anomalies and achieve the stated

objectives.

INTRODUCTION

The prospect area is located within the Afar depression, an area of active extensional tectonics and volcanism where the Gulf of

Eden, the Red sea and the Ethiopian rift systems (MER) join, Aquater (1996). The present study area is shown in Figure (1), located

between 40°59'E and 41°14'50.7''E longitude and 11°37'2.91''N and 11°47'59.4''N latitude.

A number of geo-scentific works had been made in Tendaho graben (TG) as part of the study of the Ethiopian rift to detail level

including GSE (1969), UNDP (1970-1972), joint Ethio-Italian work 1979-1996, and GSE (1997) to date. Tendaho graben is part of

the southern portion of Arta Ale-Manda Haro rift system, which extends the active tectonic of the Red sea to the south. The borders

of the NW trending Tendaho rift are marked by the Afar Stratoid Series while the rift is filled with lacustrine, evaporite and alluvial

deposits and with post Stratoid basalt overlain by recent volcanoes, Aquater (1997) and references therein. The prospect area

consists of a couple of geothermal fields among which are the Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields found. The geological map

of TG is presented in Figure (2). In the studies it was indicated that the stratigraphic sequence underlying the sediment to include

the Afar Stratoid basalt, the Dahla basalt followed by thick sediment and Mabla rhyolite .

METHODOLOGY

To meet the stated objectives a total of 37 MT stations at Dubti field, distributed along three profiles TDO6, TDO8 and TDO10 and

27 at Allalobeda along TDO20, TDO30 and TDO40 laid approximately perpendicular to the NW-SE Tendaho rift axis, as shown in

Figure (1), and measured in the MT frequency range between 320 Hz and 0.001Hz. The data processed and then the MT

impedances and phase versus frequencies, apparent resistivity versus frequencies, standard deviations of apparent resistivity, the

tipper magnitude and other MT parameters calculated and the result discussed and summarized below.

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Figure (1)꞉ Location map Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields, and the MT soundings, Tendaho graben.

Figure (2)꞉ Geological map of Tendaho graben, after Megersa, G. et al., 2006.

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DISCUSSION OF RESULT

Directionality of the impedance tensors at different depth levels (frequencies) analyzed from the Swift’s strike and tipper strike

analysis and the majority of the stations appear to show a general NW-SE strike direction, coincident with the major trend of the

Tendaho rift axis. As a result the geo-electrical strike angle N25ºWchosen for impedance tensor rotation.

The dimensionality analysis using the pseudo-sections of the apparent resistivity and phase of the TE and TM mode illustrate

overall discrepancies in the resistivity distribution for the two modes and a demarcation horizon as 1D and non-1D conductivity

structure to be around 10 sec period in the Dubti and around 5 sec at Allalobeda field as can be seen in Figure (3a) and (3b) The

directionality of the data is also inferred from the differences between the sections from the two modes. The impedance skew and

the tipper magnitude analyzed for different frequencies as shown in Figure (4a) and (4b) and the combined result in agreement with

the analysis made using the pseudo-sections. All analysis tools indicated the presence of the 3D conductivity structure for the long

period records at the respective sites and from the combined analysis result both 1D and 2D conductivity structures generalized and

implementation of 1D and 2D inversion modeling justified in the interpretation.

Figure (3). Pseudo-section plots of TE and TM modes of the apparent resistivity, phase and tipper magnitude from Dubti (a) and

Allalobeda (b) fields showing directionality and dimensionality of MT data from both areas.

In MT measurement small isolated conductivity anomalies, near surface inhomogenities, and rough topography distort the apparent

resistivity curve and introduces error in the magnitude of the resistivity by the shifting factor and the depth by the square root of the

factor. The galvanic distortion effect is due to an electric field generated from the boundary charges on near surface inhomogenities

and persists throughout the MT recording stage independent of the frequency Pellerin and Hohmann, 1990. The static shift should

be fixed prior to the MT data modeling and inversion using a data from a resistivity method that is less sensitive to near surface

inhomogenites acquired at the same location like TEM (Sternberg et al., 1988; Pellerin and Hohmann, 1990; Arnasson, (2008) after

Teklessenbet, K. (2012). Nevertheless no such correction made to the present data due to no TEM soundings made in the study but

the presence of the shift problem noted and examples presented in Figure (4a) and (4b) below.

Note the presence of static shift problem on both fields, impedance strike almost stable around N25ºW in Dubti field except for

high frequencies and show variation between 0.1 and 10 Hz for Allalobeda field. The tipper magnitude reflect non-1D conductivity

structure generally for the period greater than 10 sec in Dubti while the Allalobeda field starts at a lower period ≈ 3 sec.

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Figure (4). Representative MT soundings with interpretational parameters from Dubti TDO810 (4a) and Allalobeda TDO2005 (4b)

fields.

1D inversion modeling using the Occam procedure to the invariant mode (the geometric mean of TE and TM modes) and joint 2D

inversion of the TE+TM mode made and cross-sections from both indicated three similar geo-electrical layers at Dubti and

Allalobeda fields with an additional fourth layer in the Dubti field as can be seen on Figure (5a) and Figure (5b) and Figure (6a) and

Figure (6b) from the respective area. The 1D cross-section at both fields depicts the vertical and horizontal resistivity distribution in

a better detail while the 2D inversion models show smooth resistivity variation within and across the layer boundaries. In general

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the top three layers are almost similar with the good conducting top layer with resistivity less than 4 Ω-m with an average thickness

of 780m at Dubti and 725m in Allalobeda fields and the layer correlated to the thick fluvo-lacustrine and alluvial sediment with

intercalated post stratoid basalt and portion of highly fractured/ altered Afar Stratoid Basalt. The second layer, the resistive layer

with average thickness of 2850m correlated to portion of the Afar stratoid basalt and the Dalha Basalt, the unit hosting the

geothermal brine in Asal4, Djibouti, Varete, J. 1978. The third is a conductive layer that is correlated to the magmatic melt and its

thickness in Dubti is about 3940m. A fourth layer slightly resistive is only mapped at the Dubti field, and correlated to the Mabla

rhyolite. The average thicknesses are from the 1D sections but the 2D section generally gave a bit exaggerated results. Comparison

of the resistivity values of the two field indicates an overall increase in magnitude at the Allalobeda field and is accounted to the

possibility of steam dominated geothermal fluid, relatively higher abundance of high temperature alteration products and relatively

lower content of dissolved minerals and infiltration of cold fresh water from the nearby Awash river.

Figure (5)꞉ (a) 1D and (b) 2D geo-electric cross-sections along profile TDO8 of the Dubti field.

Major target zones that pertain to a geothermal reservoir, a conductive top layer followed by a layer of slightly increased resistivity

marking the zone of high temperature alteration mineralogy and the resistivity discontinuities are assumed to be inferred from the

iso-resistivity maps at fixed elevation from 1D and 2D inversion results.

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Figure (6)꞉ (a) 1D and (b) 2D geo-electric cross-sections along profile TDO30, Allalobeda field.

1D slice maps up to sea level, Figure (7), reveal that the two areas generally characterized by resistivity less than 3 Ω-m with a

NW-SE oriented slightly higher resistivity zone aligned along the south-western border fault of the graben in the south-western

periphery of Allalobeda field. Subsequent depth maps up to 500m b.m.s.l , Figure (8), show a general increase in resistivity

magnitude. The high resistivity zone is observed to widen and displaced towards east, truncated and distorted forming sharp

gradient to the conductive zones to the west and east of it. Traces of discontinuities related to the NE-SW trending structure AD4,

and NW-SE structures AD1 and AD2 inferred at Allalobeda field in association with intensive manifestations in the western zone

located around the intersection of the discontinuities. The resistivity of the zones east of AD2 and west of AD1 increases from

lower than 22 Ω-m to less than 76 Ω-m. Typical shallow geothermal reservoir to a depth of more than 900m from the surface could

be inferred around the western periphery Allalobeda marked by low resistivity less than 22 Ω-m that could be related to low

temperature alteration product in the zeolite and smectite minerals delineating the cap rock followed by an increased resistivity that

could be related to a zone of high temperature alteration minerals/ mixed layer zone epidote near the inferred discontinuity AD1.

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Figure (7). 1D Iso-resisitivity map at sea evel, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

Figure (8). 1D Iso-resisitivity map at 500m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

Most part of the Dubti field up to 500m b.m.s.l is characterized by high conductivity less than 10 Ω-m that is a typical responses of

the thick sediment and the conductive clay mineral (≈ 1100m thick).The gross low resistivity in the two areas is an attribute of the

thick fluvo-lacustrine deposit that consist of siltstone, sandstone and finer deposit mudstone and alteration products with

intercalated basalt observed in the deep TG wells in Dubti. Though shallow, at Logya similar lithologic unit logged in a borehole

(GBH9) can be extrapolated to cover the underlying formation between Logya and Allalobeda where it attains a thickness of about

750 m (as seen on the depth slice map at 300 m b.m.s.l, not shown here).

The majority of the 1D and 2D depth maps reflect the resistivity distribution of the Dubti field in a similar way to a depth of 750m,

the level where discrepancies start to show up. Also noted was the 2D result shows a little bit exaggerated in the resistivity

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magnitude. On the depth slice maps at 1000 m and 1200 m b.m.s.l Figure (9) and Figure (10), the low resistivity distribution which

is less than 10 Ω-m in the Dubti field grows to moderately low resistivity (< 28 Ω-m) zones generally occupying the central and

western periphery of the surveyed area bounded by the high resistivity blocks. This growth in magnitude with depth may signify the

change in the alteration zone from the high conductive zeolite-smectite and the mixed layer zone to the zone of high temperature

alteration minerals. Two resistivity discontinuities DD1 and DD2 are inferred in Dubti geothermal field bounding the NW-SE

trending high resistivity zone. The active thermal manifestation in Dubti and the productive Tendaho wells TD2, TD4, TD5 and

TD6 drilled in the area are aligned in the direction of the discontinuity DD2 showing the south ward extension of the Dubti fault

beyond 2 km. Analogous to the inferred shallow reservoir at Allalobeda field, geothermal reservoir at intermediate depth (≈1500m)

could be intersected around the peripheries of DD2 in the area marked by the low resistivity.

For the greater depth interpretation result from the 2D inversion was used, keeping in mind the observed exaggerated resistivity

magnitude on the 2D model. The resistivity distribution at 2000 m, 2500 m and 4000 m b.m.s.l Figure (11), Figure (12), and Figure

(13) reveal a decrease in the low resistivity values reaching as low as 4 Ω-m in Dubti. In addition various resistivity discontinuities

NE-SW DD0 and NW-SE, DD1, DD2, DD3 and DD4 inferred around Dubti. The low resistivity anomaly which was detected by

previous studies Lema Y. et al., 2012 south-east of the Dubti wells and manifestations along the Dubti fault is now refined bounded

by the discontinuities DD0, DD2 and DD3 opening farther towards south-east. The up flow of the geothermal fluid could be the

well defined central low resistivity zone in Dubti field and deep geothermal reservoir within an exploitation depth could be

associated around the peripheries of the central low resistivity zone adjacent to the inferred structures. The central conductive zone

here persistently increase in its conductivity to about 2 Ω-m and widens over a large with depth indicating a conductive magmatic

melt heating the area as can be seen in Figure (14). Referring to Figure (11), Figure (12) and Figure (13) the well defined low

resistivity zone east of DD4 may suggest the presence of a different geothermal system (blind geothermal system) in the Dubti

field.

Structural complexity of the Allalobeda field can be witnessed from sporadic nature of the contour lines for different depth levels

which could be due to faults and fractures of different orientations. Even the major NW-SE high resistivity contour lines disrupted

and offset by a possible NE-SW structure (AD4). This may reflect the area to be intersected by the two major fault systems related

to the north-west tectonic trend of the Tendaho graben and the north-east trending the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Also noted to

the field is the relatively higher magnitude of the resistivity value compared to the Dubti field and this is accounted to the relatively

higher abundance of high temperature alteration minerals, relatively fresh basaltic rock, possible infiltration of cold water from

Awash river, lesser content of dissolved chemicals in the geothermal fluid and the possibility of steam dominated fluid in the

system.

Figure (9). 1D Iso-resisitivity map at 1000m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

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Figure (10). 1D Iso-resisitivity map at 1200m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

Figure (11). 2D Iso-resisitivity map at 2000m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

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Figure (12). 2D Iso-resisitivity map at 2500m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

Figure (13). 2D Iso-resisitivity map at 4000m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

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Figure (14). 2D Iso-resisitivity map at 6000m b.m.s.l, Dubti and Allalobeda geothermal fields.

CONCLUSION

The Swift’s impedance strike and tipper strike analysis at different depth levels (frequencies) indicated that the majority

of the stations to show a general NW-SE strike direction coincident with the major trend of the Tendaho rift axis N25ºW.

The dimensionality analysis parameters the Swift skiew and the tipper magnitude and the polar plots at different

frequencies indicated non-1D conductivity structure for the longer period beyond 10 sec and around 5 sec at Dubti at

Allalobeda field respectively.

Cross-sections from 1D and 2D inversion models revealed similar resistivity layers a good conducting top layer

correlated to fluvo-lacustrine and alluvial sediment with intercalated post stratoid basalt together with the portion of

highly fractured/ altered Afar Stratoid Basalt underlain by a resistive layer correlated to portion of the Afar stratoid basalt

and the Dalha Basalt and the third conductive layer correlated to the magmatic melt. A fourth layer only mapped at the

Dubti field may be correlated to the Mabla rhyolite.

Conducive reservoir environments are inferred from 3D view using iso-resistivity maps from 1D and 2D inversion

models. From the 1D model shallow geothermal reservoir to a depth of about 900m around the western periphery of

Allalobeda marked by a moderately higher resistivity zone (22-76 Ω-m) associated to the surface intensive

manifestations in the western zone around the intersections of the NE-SW trending structure AD4, and NW-SE structures

AD1 and AD3. While in Dubti geothermal reservoir at an intermediate depth (≈1500m) could be intersected around the

peripheries of DD2 in the area delineated by a moderately low (ρ < 28 Ω-m) in the central area.

The resistivity structure beyond 2000m b.m.s.l better defined from the 2D slice maps: a widely distributed low resistivity

horizon of the deepest horizon emerge to the depth of 2000m b.m.s.l, narrowing as a well defined central low resistivity

zone (ρ < 4 Ω-m) in the south-eastern central Dubti field bounded by the NE-SW discontinuity D0 and NW-SE

lineaments DD0, DD2 and DD3 delineating the up flow zone in the field. Geothermal fluid at depth emerges to shallow

level along these structures, flowing laterally and enriching the shallow permeable formation and vertically as the thermal

manifestations in the field.

Though limited MT soundings at Allalobeda the general NW-SE trend of resistivity contour lines that opens in the

direction of Logya suggest the possibility of connection of the two systems.

The sporadic nature of the orientation of the resistivity contour lines for different depth levels suggest that the Allalobeda

field to be structurally complex, diagnostic to the presence of different faults and fractures of different orientations. The

offset seen in the high resistivity contour reflect the influence of major fault systems, the tectonic trend of the Tendaho

graben and the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER).

The presence of a different deep geothermal system (blind geothermal system) in the Dubti field is inferred from a well

defined low resistivity zone mapped east of DD4.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Since the presence of static shift is noted in the MT data of the present study Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) sounding

should be made around the present MT stations and reprocessing of the data is recommended before taking any drilling

action around the suggested promising sites by this study.

Further MT soundings towards north and south of the Allalobeda field to persuade the open resistivity structures,

additional MT profiles south of profile TDO8 to pursue the open low conductive zone of the central Dubti anomaly and

extending TDO10, TDO6 as well as TDO8 towards east to further investigate the conductive zone mapped east of

DD4towards the respective directions. In addition 3D inversion modelling is recommended to better map the conductivity

structure of the subsurface in the two fields.

REFERENCES

Arnason, K., 2008: The Magnetotelluric Static Shift Problem. ISOR-Iceland Geosurvey, report 08088, 16pp.

Aquater, 1979: Geothermal Resource Exploration Project Tendaho Area Prefeasibility Study. EIGS and Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of Italy San Lorenzo in Campo.

Bekele, B. 2011, Review and Reinterpretation of Tendaho Geophysical Data, un published report of Geological Survey of Ethiopia.

EIGS and Aquter (1980): Geothermal Resources Exploration Project Tendaho-area, prefeasibility study-phase II. Final Report, MME,

EIGS-Government of Italy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, San Lorezo in Campo.

EIGS and Aquter (1996): Geothermal Resources Exploration Project Tendaho-area, prefeasibility study-phase II. Final Report Volume I

and II, MME, EIGS-Government of Italy, Ministry of foreign affairs, San Lorezo in Campo.

Lemma, Y., Abera, F., Dendir, K., Kebede, Y., 2012: Magnetotelluric Survey at Tendaho Geothermal field in North East of Ethiopia:

GSE unpublished report.

Megersa, G., Getaneh, E., 2006: Geology, Surface Hydrothermal Alteration and Geological Mapping of Dubti-Semera area, Tendaho

Geothermal Field.

Pellerin, L., Hohmann, G.W., 1990: Transient Electromagnetic Inversion: A remedy for Magnetotelluric Static Shift. Geophysics, 55-9,

1242-1250. Teklesenbet, A. 2012:Multi dimensional inversion of MT data from Alid geothermal field. MSc. Thesis Faculty of

Earth Science, Universisty of Iceland, pp.137. ISBNxx.

UNDP (1973): Investigating of Geothermal Resources for Power Development, Geology, Geochemistry and Hydrogeology of Hot

Springs of East African Rift System with in Ethiopia. DP/SF/UN 116-technical report, pp275. United Nations, New

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Varet, J., and Gasse, F., 1978: Geology of Southern and Central Afar, Centre Ntionale de la Recerche Scientique (pub).